General Commissioners of Income Tax: Amalgamation of Divisions

Lord Acton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are their proposals for the amalgamations of divisions of the General Commissioners of Income Tax in Lancashire, Bedfordshire, Clwyd and Essex.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: On 8 June 2003 I made an order under Section 2(6) of the Taxes Management Act 1970 amalgamating a number of divisions in Lancashire, Bedfordshire, Clwyd and Essex.
	From 1 July 2003, the Blackburn and Burnley Divisions shall be merged into a new division to be called the East Lancashire Division.
	From 1 January 2004 the Divisions of Bedford; Biggleswade; Flitt and Manshead shall be merged into one new division to be called the Bedfordshire Division.
	That order also gives effect from 1 June 2003 to the merger of the Mold and Wrexham Maelor Divisions into the Mold and Wrexham Maelor Division and the Divisions of Dunmow and Ongar; Epping and Harlow to be merged into a new division to be called West Essex.
	All the amalgamations were made at the request of the General Commissioners in all the divisions with the aim of improving the organisational efficiency of the divisions concerned. I have placed a copy of the order amalgamating the divisions in the Library.

Rent and Council Tax Arrears: Enforcement

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proposals they are considering which would add forcible entry to the list of options that can be used by local authorities and bailiffs in cases of rent and council tax arrears.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Government's proposals for a single piece of enforcement agent law aim to eliminate the differences between the rules for different types of judgment debts. Few enforcement agents currently have the power to undertake forcible entry to residential premises. Existing case law relating to bailiffs is complex. However, we are looking to simplify the law.
	We are proposing a stricter definition of the term "normal entry", which currently permits an enforcement agent to enter through such means as an open window. In order to offer the debtor more protection, we propose that enforcement agents should only be allowed to enter a domestic property through an open or unlocked door or with the permission of the debtor.
	Prior judicial authority will be required for forcible entry to be permitted in domestic properties. It is my intention that forcible entry to residential property should rarely be used and then only in very specific circumstances. The court will need to be satisfied that certain criteria have been met before granting such authority. All enforcement agents will be licensed and subject to strict regulation.
	We are keen to protect those who genuinely cannot pay from being subject to any undue pressure, including forcible entry to their premises.

Civil Partnerships

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer given by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 22 May (WA 105), whether lack of legal status for unmarried cohabiting partners of the opposite sex causes problems for such partners in their daily lives; and if so, whether they see arguments in favour of a civil partnership registration scheme in England and Wales for such couples, bringing with it a package of rights and responsibilities for those who register.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Opposite-sex couples already have the opportunity of obtaining legal status for their relationship by entering into a marriage, whether religious or civil. Some couples choose not to marry, and that is entirely a decision for them.

North/South Language Body

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 12 May (WA 2) which indicated that the Irish Government could not set the budgets which include contributions by the United Kingdom Government, how this Answer is consistent with the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 12 May (WA 1) which indicated that the Irish Government set the North/South Language Body's budget on 12 November 2002 and announced it in the Irish Parliament on 3 December when the United Kingdom Government only agreed the budget on 26 February 2003.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Written Answer to the noble Lord on 12 May (WA 1) did not indicate that the Irish Government set the North/South Language Body's budget on 12 November 2002; rather it indicated that officials in the Department of Culture, Arts, and Leisure were informed of the Southern contribution to the budget of the Body.
	The Northern Ireland contribution to this budget was announced as part of the overall Northern Ireland budget by the Secretary of State on 11 December 2002.
	Under the agreement made by the exchange of notes between the British and Irish Governments dated 19 November 2002, the two governments approved the recommendation for the total budget for the North/South Language Body on 26 February 2003.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On what basis a pay award was made for the employees of Waterways Ireland from 1 October 2002; whether all employees will receive the award; what are the remuneration packages of the chief executive and the deputy chief executive; and how they were calculated.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Waterways Ireland employees based in the Republic of Ireland received a 4 per cent pay award for the period 1 October 2002 to 30 June 2003 in line with the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness which applies to all public service workers in the Republic. Employees based in Northern Ireland were paid a pro rata award of 2.67 per cent for the period from 1 October 2002 to the end of March 2003. From 1 April 2003 pay awards for employees based in Northern Ireland will be linked to pay awards for the Northern Ireland Civil Service.
	The chief executive's salary from 1 April 2002 is £70,725 within the range £70,725 to £83,025 within the Senior Civil Service pay bands of the Northern Ireland Civil Service. The salary from 1 April 2003 is awaiting the agreement of the 2003 pay settlement. The assessment of grading and salary level was made using the job evaluation system for senior posts in the Northern Ireland Civil Service.
	Waterways Ireland has no deputy chief executive.

Northern Ireland: Protestant Community Employment Data

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 18 March (WA 26), what factors have been identified as responsible for the unemployment differentials between different denominations within the Protestant community in Northern Ireland.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: While various academics have alluded to information, derived from census results, on differences in the unemployment rates between Protestant denominations, no research findings are available to explain the differences that have been observed.

Paramilitarism

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are committed to paragraph 13 of the Joint Declaration by the British and Irish Governments of April 2003 which concerns paramilitarism.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Yes.

Northern Ireland: Translink Services

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will ensure that, if Translink travel passes for former employees in Northern Ireland are replaced by the Senior Smartpass, the same conditions will apply for former employees.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Translink has advised that as from 1 April 2003 it has withdrawn travel passes from all retired employees over 65. Such retired employees are eligible for Department for Regional Development Senior Smartpasses which are available to all Northern Ireland residents aged 65 and over and provide free bus and rail travel throughout Northern Ireland.
	The Government have no plans to intervene in personnel affairs between Translink and its retired employees on this matter.

Owen Waide: Special Educational Needs Assessment

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will review the case of Owen Waide of Carryduff who has been refused special treatment for the conditions of Aspergers and Dyspraxia by the Northern Ireland South-Eastern Education and Library Board.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The South-Eastern Education and Library Board is currently undertaking a statutory assessment of Owen Waide's special educational needs and in this connection the board's Special Education Sub-Committee met on 15 May 2003 to review the level of specialist provision afforded to Owen. It was then agreed that the board would provide an enhanced level of specialist provision, both at home and at school.
	The full detail of the enhanced provision has been communicated to Mr and Mrs Waide and the board is currently awaiting their response.

North/South Implementation Bodies

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it is possible under the interim arrangements of 19 November 2002 (Cmnd 5708) for the Government of the Irish Republic unilaterally to set budgets for the Cross-Border Implementation Bodies.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: No. All decisions relating to North/South bodies are made by agreement between the two Governments.

EU Special Programmes Body

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there has been any underspend in the grant programmes in the years from 2000 by the European Union Special Programmes Body (one of the implementation bodies set up after the Belfast agreement of 1998); if so, how much was the underspend in each year; for what reason it arose; and what happened to the funds underspent.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Money committed for the years 2000 and 2001 must be spent by 31 December 2003. This is the first date at which underspends for these years, if any, would be recorded.

Northern Ireland Departments: Underspend

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the underspend of the Northern Ireland block grant by department for 2002–03; and what were the similar figures for 2001–02.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Details relating to departmental underspends for 2002–03 are not yet available. Information on the performance of the Northern Ireland departments will be available when provisional outturn data has been received and analysed in June of this year.
	For details relating to departmental underspends for 2001–02, I would refer the noble Lord to the reply I gave on 30 April 2003. (Official Report col. WA 102).

Northern Ireland: Ulster Scots Community

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6 March (WA 129) concerning equality for the Ulster Scots community, whether they consider the answer consistent with the Belfast agreement of 1998.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Yes.Huw

Northern Ireland: Smoking among Civil Servants

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 3 April (WA 142), concerning the Northern Ireland Civil Service and smoking, who is currently carrying out the review on smoking policy; and when the review will be completed.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The review of Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) and Northern Ireland Office (NIO) smoking policy is being carried out by an internal review team composed of representatives from personnel branches across the NI departments; the NIO; the NICS Occupational Health Service; the Health & Safety Executive; and representatives from those areas with corporate NICS responsibility for accommodation and personnel policy. The trade unions have been advised of the review and are to be consulted in respect of implementation of a revised smoking policy for the NICS and NIO.
	It is anticipated that the implementation plans for a revised smoking policy will be finalised and endorsed by departments in the near future. Following this there will be close consultation with central trade union side in respect of the implementation of a revised smoking policy including timetable; advice to staff and line managers; and support available to staff wishing to give up smoking. It is hoped to have a formal announcement/launch of the new NICS and NIO smoking policy early next year.

Northern Ireland Departments: Questions for Written Answer

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have issued directions to government departments in Northern Ireland recently regarding Answers to Parliamentary Questions; if so, what were those instructions; and whether a copy of any documents can be placed in the Library of the House.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Guidance on the answering of Parliamentary Questions was issued to all 11 departments of the Northern Ireland administration following the suspension of the devolved institutions. A copy of the guidance has been placed in the Library.
	The guidance is currently being reviewed and will be reissued shortly.

PEACE II Funding

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How the benefits of PEACE II funding have been made available to the public and groups in the related areas of Ulster; and what encouragement they have offered for applications for such funding.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: PEACE II funding is allocated through 34 measures and 47 implementing bodies have been appointed across the whole of NI to deliver these. Some measures are sectorally based and others, notably those delivered by local strategy partnerships, are geographically based. Each implementing body determines how the funding will be awarded to projects proposed by organisations and groups in line with the programme's objectives and the selection criteria set out in the programme complement agreed by the PEACE II Monitoring Committee. Implementing bodies are responsible for promoting their measures through publicity and encouraging and providing advice to potential applicants. The Special EU Programmes Body as managing authority is responsible for promoting the programme as a whole.

Disposal of Human Bodies

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they consider the law on disposal of human bodies to be sufficiently clear; and on what public authority website executors and next of kin may check on their duties.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Government are satisfied that the law governing the different methods available for the disposal of human bodies in England and Wales is clear, while recognising that these methods are subject to separate legislation, principally the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1926, the Cremation Act 1902, the Anatomy Act 1984 and, in certain circumstances, the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985.
	Information about the disposal of human remains, and other responsibilities arising following a death, can be obtained from the Ukonline website www.ukonline.gov.uk under the death and bereavement life event. The websites of the Home Office, Office for National Statistics and the Department for Work and Pensions also contain relevant guidance.

Lord Archer of Weston-Super-Mare:Parole Board Decision

Lord Merlyn-Rees: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have intervened in the decision of the Parole Board to release the Lord Archer of Weston-Super-Mare on licence at the half-way point of his sentence.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The press reports that Ministers or John Gieve or Martin Narey or other senior officials had sought to influence the Parole Board's decision on Lord Archer's application for parole are wholly unfounded.

Police Use of Firearms

Lord Acton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the statistics on police use of firearms in 2001–02 in England and Wales.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The statistics for April 2001 to March 2002 show that the number of police operations in which firearms were issued was 13,991. The number of occasions on which firearms were discharged by police was 11.
	Armed response vehicles were deployed on 11,572 occasions and there were 5,776 authorised firearms officers in England and Wales.
	Full details are set out in the tables below:
	
		Number of Operations in which Firearms were Authorised
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
			 Total 10,928 10,915 11,109 13,991 
			 Avon & Somerset 88 90 65 195 
			 Bedfordshire 260 190 294 237 
			 Cambridgeshire 43 75 71 114 
			 Cheshire 299 386 545 419 
			 Cleveland 35 76 28 37 
			 City of London 147 125 3 40 
			 Cumbria 52 24 30 71 
			 Derbyshire 176 178 167 275 
			 Devon & Cornwall 61 65 151 101 
			 Dorset 69 79 174 184 
			 Durham 114 114 40 89 
			 Essex 590 497 435 323 
			 Gloucestershire 52 52 48 165 
			 Greater Manchester 160 224 357 580 
			 Hampshire 129 103 114 198 
			 Hertfordshire 75 73 86 112 
			 Humberside 317 193 158 297 
			 Kent 92 85 83 115 
			 Lancashire 616 267 242 232 
			 Leicestershire 109 222 217 300 
			 Lincolnshire 57 155 336 477 
			 Merseyside 484 489 825 1,020 
			 Metropolitan 2,742 2,862 1,862 2,447 
			 Norfolk 185 239 226 175 
			 Northamptonshire 51 57 58 43 
			 Northumbria 683 465 708 1,440 
			 North Yorkshire 69 61 72 92 
			 Nottinghamshire 266 255 233 384 
			 South Yorkshire 135 237 127 258 
			 Staffordshire 209 174 203 232 
			 Suffolk 174 165 176 163 
			 Surrey 60 143 221 245 
			 Sussex 123 185 353 248 
			 Thames Valley 158 110 153 179 
			 Warwickshire 291 194 233 130 
			 West Mercia 130 110 36 117 
			 West Midlands 305 362 485 822 
			 West Yorkshire 662 813 822 757 
			 Wiltshire 24 19 66 45 
			 Dyfed Powys 38 37 18 28 
			 Gwent 64 39 30 20 
			 North Wales 386 371 195 302 
			 South Wales 148 255 363 283 
		
	
	
		Number of Authorised Firearms Officers (AFOs)
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
			 Total 6,308 6,262 6,064 5,776 
			 Avon & Somerset 153 150 135 116 
			 Bedfordshire 50 46 45 48 
			 Cambridgeshire 80 77 73 56 
			 Cheshire 70 75 74 81 
			 Cleveland 78 80 75 85 
			 City of London 55 73 74 73 
			 Cumbria 98 98 94 92 
			 Derbyshire 87 77 81 80 
			 Devon & Cornwall 82 119 100 108 
			 Dorset 72 66 67 57 
			 Durham 96 101 101 86 
			 Essex 235 228 195 180 
			 Gloucestershire 79 77 72 71 
			 Greater Manchester 217 218 240 219 
			 Hampshire 110 111 100 87 
			 Hertfordshire 43 52 44 46 
			 Humberside 102 97 102 96 
			 Kent 130 136 136 113 
			 Lancashire 132 143 132 138 
			 Leicestershire 90 90 85 69 
			 Lincolnshire 75 78 80 91 
			 Merseyside 121 96 103 78 
			 Metropolitan 1,951 1,977 1,940 1,805 
			 Norfolk 109 110 114 104 
			 Northamptonshire 92 75 77 51 
			 Northumbria 123 114 109 125 
			 North Yorkshire 83 59 66 66 
			 Nottinghamshire 120 116 137 136 
			 South Yorkshire 90 100 98 92 
			 Staffordshire 92 81 67 71 
			 Suffolk 101 98 90 90 
			 Surrey 69 71 72 62 
			 Sussex 156 131 118 120 
			 Thames Valley 179 187 185 156 
			 Warwickshire 44 54 45 50 
			 West Mercia 139 129 130 125 
			 West Midlands 92 93 83 111 
			 West Yorkshire 128 110 117 116 
			 Wiltshire 88 89 71 71 
			 Dyfed Powys 67 65 61 77 
			 Gwent 64 68 66 57 
			 North Wales 97 92 67 83 
			 South Wales 169 155 143 138 
		
	
	
		Number of Operations involving Armed Response Vehicles (ARVs)
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
			 Total 7,791 8,276 8,179 11,574 
			 Avon & Somerset 83 78 56 173 
			 Bedfordshire 240 172 253 172 
			 Cambridgeshire 27 54 36 43 
			 Cheshire 247 330 441 523 
			 Cleveland 29 25 16 13 
			 City of London 32 24 30 39 
			 Cumbria 38 21 27 53 
			 Derbyshire 153 167 152 253 
			 Devon & Cornwall 43 52 121 76 
			 Dorset 66 69 155 182 
			 Durham 84 67 31 57 
			 Essex 285 244 206 165 
			 Gloucestershire 49 44 39 140 
			 Greater Manchester 43 173 302 528 
			 Hampshire 114 90 84 116 
			 Hertfordshire 26 44 65 81 
			 Humberside 277 181 136 273 
			 Kent 74 58 64 89 
			 Lancashire 596 250 177 192 
			 Leicestershire 109 144 195 292 
			 Lincolnshire 42 141 324 470 
			 Merseyside 396 466 75 974 
			 Metropolitan 1,573 1,812 1,380 1,667 
			 Norfolk 167 210 192 157 
			 Northamptonshire 32 21 35 25 
			 Northumbria 503 397 655 1,349 
			 North Yorkshire 30 40 54 60 
			 Nottinghamshire 246 232 207 333 
			 South Yorkshire 115 214 103 221 
			 Staffordshire 185 131 136 208 
			 Suffolk 104 101 103 116 
			 Surrey 46 110 192 225 
			 Sussex 0(1) 172 245 189 
			 Thames Valley 139 108 108 174 
			 Warwickshire 220 158 194 104 
			 West Mercia 99 98 26 100 
			 West Midlands 129 138 243 563 
			 West Yorkshire 630 787 785 609 
			 Wiltshire 17 15 48 43 
			 Dyfed Powys 30 37 18 28 
			 Gwent 39 27 17 16 
			 North Wales 298 354 155 265 
			 South Wales 136 220 298 218 
		
	
	these forces have changed the counting method for incidents to which ARVs are deployed.

Religiously Motivated Attacks

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many religiously motivated attacks on persons or property occurred in England and Wales in the most recent three months and in each previous quarter since September 2001; and what preventative methods they are using.

Lord Filkin: Statistics at national level for religiously motivated attacks are currently not kept centrally. The Metropolitan Police Force has begun to keep its own statistics on such attacks, following the introduction of new religiously aggravated offences in December 2001 as part of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act. All police services now keep records of racist incidents in their areas, and the Home Office will be looking to encourage all forces similarly to record instances of religiously motivated incidents.
	Since January 2002 the Crown Prosecution Service has had 37 cases of religiously aggravated offences referred to it for prosecution by the police.
	A number of forces have dedicated liaison officers at management level (inspector or chief inspector) with a borough or local authority wide remit. These play a pivotal role, which is likely to include responsibility for reducing crimes against groups identified by, among other characteristics, ethnic, racial or religious status.
	The Metropolitan Police Service holds regular meetings with representatives from many of faith groups in order to record and react, where necessary, to community concerns. In the aftermath of the events of September 11 2001 and more recently the war in Iraq, high visibility uniformed patrols were assigned to potentially vulnerable religious premises. Dialogue has been encouraged between police and faith groups at a local level, and these together with local initiatives have assisted in keeping faith crimes at a low level in what have been tense times for many faith groups.

Military Service: Compensation Arrangements

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal and the Lord Bach on 9 April (WA 26 and WA 40–44), whether their proposal to introduce an across the board balance of probabilities standard of proof in Armed forces compensation arrangements will decrease the number of awards made under those arrangements; and, if so, whether unsuccessful claimants will be forced to apply for assistance through the civil benefits systems.

Lord Bach: The first objective set for the review of Armed Forces compensation arrangements was to provide a fair deal for all who are injured or killed as a result of service, rather than to look at the particular numbers that might be eligible for compensation. The review team has proposed a balance of probabilities standard of proof—as used in the civil courts—as the best measure of whether an injury or illness was due to service in the Armed Forces. They have included provision for exceptional review where, for example, a condition emerges late or where there is a relevant change in the medical understanding of the causation of an illness. It has also recommended a completely independent channel of appeal to the Pensions Appeals Tribunal where a claimant considers that his or her case has not been properly considered by the department. Ministers are giving careful consideration to whether these proposals will address properly the particular demands of service life and we expect to announce a decision shortly.
	For the current scheme and for any new scheme, there will be the normal entitlements to claim state benefits where the department decides that a condition is not due to service and where any appeal is not upheld. Under proposals for the new scheme, welfare support would be provided and could assist any unsuccessful claimant with applying for state benefits.

Iraq: Water Supply to Civilians

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it was the policy or practice of the coalition forces during the recent war in Iraq to pollute or destroy the supply of drinking water for the civilian population in Iraq.

Lord Bach: No.

Iraq: Depleted Uranium

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the official figures will be published of the amount of depleted uranium used in the 2003 Iraq war.

Lord Bach: A total weight of around 1.92 tonnes of depleted uranium ammunition has been fired in Iraq by United Kingdom forces since the start of recent hostilities. These figures will also be published on the Ministry of Defence website at www.mod.uk/issues/depleted uranium.
	Ordnance expended by US forces is a matter for the US authorities.

RAF Fylingdales: Early Warning Radar System

Lord Campbell-Savours: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made following their agreement to a United States request to upgrade the early warning radar system at RAF Fylingdales as part of the United States missile defence programme.

Lord Bach: In a Written Statement on 5 February by my right honourable friend the Defence Secretary (Official Report, Commons; cols 11-12 WS) in another place, he informed the House that the Government had agreed to a US request to upgrade the early warning radar at RAF Fylingdales as part of the US missile defence programme. Since then, we have been engaged in negotiating agreements with the US intended further to develop bilateral co-operation on aspects of the US missile defence programme. The United States Secretary of Defense and my right honourable friend the Defence Secretary have today signed a Framework Memorandum of Understanding on missile defence that facilitates bilateral information exchanges on missile defence matters, establishes a top-level management structure to oversee co-operative work, and prepares the way for fair opportunities to be given to UK industry to participate in the US programme. It also contains general provisions for security, personnel and other administrative matters. Further MOUs are being negotiated covering the detailed arrangements for the upgrade of the Fylingdales radar, and setting up specific UK/US technical co-operative programmes. The details of these bilateral arrangements are confidential between the respective governments at this stage.
	None of these agreements commits the UK Government to the acquisition or deployment of a missile defence system. But the Framework MOU is an important step forward that will enable us to improve our understanding of the capabilities of the US system, in order to inform any future decisions on missile defence for the UK or for Europe as a whole.

Water Fluoridation

Earl Baldwin of Bewdley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the advice reported to have been given recently in a letter by health and environment Ministers to the Deputy Prime Minister, that steps are now necessary to facilitate new fluoridation schemes because these represent the best way of preventing dental decay, was given; whether it represents government policy; and, if so, whether it was given with or without the advice of the Chief Medical Officer; and
	Whether the suggestion reported to have been made recently in a letter by health and environment Ministers to the Deputy Prime Minister, that people who do not wish to receive fluoridated water through the mains supply will be able to use water filters, was made; whether it represents government policy; if so, what the approximate costs of installing and maintaining filters will be; and who will bear those costs.

Baroness Andrews: The Government wish to empower health communities to make well informed choices about improving oral health including the option of deciding whether to fluoridate their water. We are particularly attracted by the potential fluoridation offers for reducing inequalities in oral health. The Chief Medical Officer and Chief Dental Officer are considering the implications of the recent Medical Research Council report Water Fluoridation and Health for the development of government policy on fluoridation.

Water Fluoridation

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Medical Research Council took evidence into claims that fluoridated water affects the immune system, the reproductive system, child development, bone cancer and stomach complaints as part of the report released on 5 September 2002.

Baroness Andrews: A review by the University of York found that the evidence showed that fluoridating water helps to reduce tooth decay with no evidence of other adverse effects on general health. The report did, however, identify the need for more good quality research and the Department of Health asked the Medical Research Council (MRC) to suggest where it might be possible to strengthen the evidence base.
	In its report, the MRC stated that available evidence does not suggest a link between water fluoridation and either cancer in general or any specific cancer type (including osteosarcoma, primary bone cancer), but recommended that we monitored data collected on the incidence of cancer so that any aberrant trends in populations receiving fluoridated water could be investigated.
	Other claims have been made for an association between fluoride ingestion and deficiencies in the immune system, reproductive and developmental (birth) defects, and effects on the kidney and gastrointestinal tract. The MRC considered the evidence for any significant health effects to be weak and did not recommend any specific research, although it recommended we keep research in these areas under review.

Cancer Registries

Baroness Finlay of Llandaff: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What provisions there are in place to ensure that cancer registries pass on timely, accurate and complete information to the Office for National Statistics; and whether there are plans to make this a statutory requirement.

Baroness Andrews: Cancer registries supply data to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in accordance with the national core contract, notified to Directors of Cancer Registries in England in NHS Executive Letter number 7 in February 1996, and the supporting Cancer Registry Standards, published in September 2001. The mechanism for reporting to the Office for National Statistics is agreed between each regional cancer registry and ONS, and data are provided in a standard agreed format. There are no plans to make this a statutory requirement.

Extra Care Housing

Lord Howie of Troon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress they have made toward reaching their target of increasing extra care housing levels by 6,900 units by 2005–06.

Baroness Andrews: The Supporting People mapping exercise indicates that we are already close to achieving our target on extra care housing of 27,000 places by 2006.

NHS: Brokerage

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which strategic health authorities brokerage for National Health Service trusts and primary care trusts in order to ensure that they did not fail in their statutory duty to achieve financial balance for 2002–03; and what amounts were involved; and
	Which, if any, National Health Service organisations, other than strategic health authorities, were involved in brokerage arrangements for 2002–03; and what amounts were involved.

Baroness Andrews: Information on the reason for brokerage between National Health Service bodies is not collected centrally. The latest information held centrally on inter-year flexibility (brokerage) between NHS bodies in 2002–03 has been placed in the Library.

Disabled Young People: John Grooms Inquiry

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What consideration they have given to the report of the John Grooms's inquiry into the needs of disabled young people published on 3 June; and whether there is any action they will be taking further to its findings and recommendations.

Baroness Andrews: The Department of Health remains committed to improving the rights, independence, choice and inclusion of disabled people through ongoing health and social care policy development, in partnership with all interested parties, enabling disabled people to play a full part in the community.
	We have asked survey and evaluation colleagues to assess the report before deciding what further action may be required. We are already taking action to improve services for disabled people through the long-term conditions national service framework due to be published next year for implementation from 2005; the Valuing People White Paper on learning disabilities, currently in a five-year implementation phase; and our general investment in social services which will raise standards for all in need including disabled people.

Disabled People: Community-based Services

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many disabled people were receiving help under the provisions of Section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 in each of the past five years for which statistics are available.

Baroness Andrews: The available data are shown in the table. Comparable data for earlier years are not available.
	
		Number of adults with physical, sensory and learning disabilities receiving community-based services(2) 2000-01 and 2001-02. -- England(thousands)
		
			  All ages 18–64 65+ 
			 2000-01 1,066.1 252.7 803.0 
			 2001-02 1,105.3 258.2 847.1 
		
	
	Source:
	RAP Table P1.1
	Note: Community-based services include services such as home care, day care, meals, respite, short term residential care, direct payments, professional support, transport, equipment and adaptations.

NHS Commissioning

Lord Clement-Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In light of the recent Department of Health guidance on specialised commissioning, whether collaborative commissioning groups are intended to be a direct replacement for regional specialised commissioning groups; and
	Whether regional specialised commissioning groups will continue, either in their current or in a modified form; and
	What might constitute "good reasons for change" to existing commissioning consortia.

Baroness Andrews: The recent guidance requires the development of Level 2 collaborative commissioning groups for specialised services. These will often cover the same geographical area as, and have similar functions to, the former regional specialised commissioning groups (RSCGs). However, collaborative commissioning groups' exact remit, powers and rules of engagement will be decided by their member primary care trusts (PCTs), as will the Level 1 collaborative commissioning groups for specialised services. It is therefore open to member PCTs to decide that these groups act as a direct replacement for RSCGs, but it is a matter for local decision. What might constitute good reasons for change to existing commissioning arrangements is a matter for local determination.

NHS Commissioning

Lord Clement-Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the decisions of collaborative commissioning groups will be binding on all primary care trust members.

Baroness Andrews: The remit, powers and rules of engagement of collaborative commissioning groups for specialised services are agreed by the member primary care trusts (PCTs) and the decisions of these groups are binding on all members. Strategic health authorities performance manage such arrangements and ensure all PCTs belong to an appropriate collaborative commissioning group.

Strategic Health Authorities

Lord Clement-Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether strategic health authorities will have the power to intervene where guidance is not being implemented or adhered to.

Baroness Andrews: Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) have a responsibility to performance manage the local National Health Service and could intervene if performance is inadequate. The Department of Health will hold SHAs to account for performance against the priorities set out in the priorities and planning framework and can intervene where "Directions" are not being adhered to. It will not however routinely intervene in matters of guidance as it is up to the NHS to implement best practice locally.

Matrons

Lord MacKenzie of Culkein: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they agree with the statement attributed to David Jackson, chief executive of Bradford Hospitals National Health Service Trust (when speaking about foundation hospitals), that "most Trusts would think modern matrons were not the most appropriate way of managing their organisation".

Baroness Andrews: NHS foundation trusts will have freedom to put in place the staffing and management structures that ensure the necessary mix of skills to provide the best standard of care to patients. Modern matron posts have been a very successful innovation.

Domiciliary Oxygen Services

Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will announce the results of the review of domiciliary oxygen services initiated in March 2000.

Baroness Andrews: In 1999 the Department of Health asked the Royal College of Physicians to lead a multidisciplinary working party to devise new clinical guidelines for the use of domiciliary oxygen. Although the working party's terms of reference precluded making specific recommendations about alterations in service provision, a number of the guidelines had implications for the content of the existing domiciliary oxygen service and for the way in which the service is delivered. It was clear, therefore, that this vital resource—that has seen only one significant change, the introduction of oxygen concentrators, in the past 50 years—had become out of date, both in terms of the service offered to patients and its cost effectiveness. It was against this background that the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, my noble friend Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, directed that a review of the domiciliary oxygen service should take place.
	This review is now complete and we are ready to move forward to create a modernised and integrated service for the provision of domiciliary oxygen.
	At present domiciliary oxygen is ordered for patients by general practitioners. The service consists principally of the provision of oxygen either from large cylinders supplied by community pharmacies, or delivered by way of an oxygen concentrator, installed in the patient's home by a contractor.
	The modern, integrated service that is proposed represents a considerable advance on this organisational and service model. The new model will transfer responsibility for ordering oxygen for long-term oxygen therapy from general practitioners to specialist consultants in hospital. This will relieve general practitioners of the bureaucratic burden of writing prescriptions, effectively on the direction of hospital doctors. (Patients who need long-term oxygen will invariably have their needs assessed by hospital staff). The hospital consultant will decide, in discussion with the patient, what the patient's needs for oxygen are. For example, many patients would benefit from having oxygen available in a form that allows them greater freedom of movement both in and outside the home than is possible with large cylinders or oxygen concentrators. General practitioners will continue to be able to prescribe oxygen for patients who need small amounts of oxygen.
	Once the hospital consultant or general practitioner has discussed and determined the patient's need for oxygen, it will be the responsibility of contractors to work closely with the patient and decide what technology—that is, what type and method of oxygen supply—will best suit the patient's therapeutic need, and to provide it. These specialist contractors will be well placed to keep pace with developments in the technical aspects of service delivery, so patients will benefit from advances in technology as they are developed.
	Thus the modernised integrated service represents a sensible division of responsibility in the provision of domiciliary oxygen services. It places clinical responsibility for assessing oxygen need with doctors, and places technical decisions on the best and most up-to-date method of delivery with service contractors.
	Over the next few months a specification for the provision of the integrated service will be drawn up. Contractors will be invited to tender against this specification and contracts will be let. It is expected that the integrated service will be fully operational early in 2005. The current arrangements for the provision of domiciliary oxygen will continue as at present to cover this transitional period.

Young Carers

Baroness Howe of Idlicote: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the acceptance by young carers of family responsibilities exposes them to the risk of being bullied at school.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: Although there is no clear evidence of the extent of the problem, we are aware that young carers are prone to bullying. We recognise that some of those who care for people with mental health problems are particularly susceptible to bullying at school. We are taking steps to raise awareness of these issues, for example, through citizenship education and initial teacher training. Schools need to take all bullying very seriously. Head teachers are required to draw up and implement measures to prevent all forms of bullying in school. Schools should recognise bullying as it occurs and take firm steps to tackle it. They need to be aware that any risk of bullying, particularly if it is not dealt with firmly, could result in young carers dropping out of school.

Housing Benefit Sanctions and Anti-social Behaviour

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the question "whether it is right, in principle, for the State to support the housing costs of people whose behaviour brings misery to the lives of individuals and communities" (Housing Benefit Sanctions and Anti-Social Behaviour) can be answered without reference to an alternative, and if so, why; and whether prisoners in gaol are exempt from this principle, and if so, who else is exempt; and
	What reason they have for believing that housing benefit sanctions will diminish anti-social behaviour rather than increase it; and
	Further to paragraph 6 of Housing Benefit Sanctions and Anti-Social Behaviour, why they believe that housing benefit sanctions will contribute to restoring a sense of social responsibility; and
	Why they believe that housing benefit sanctions are compatible with their own social responsibility.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The Government strongly believe that all residents are entitled to the quiet enjoyment of their housing, a right undermined by anti-social behaviour.
	As the consultation paper makes clear, we are not proposing housing benefit sanctions as the only way of addressing bad behaviour. Sanctions would be one of a number of measures that might be used to address the type of anti-social behaviour that can blight neighbourhoods. We are seeking the views of those involved in dealing with anti-social behaviour on whether a power to impose sanctions would be a useful and effective additional tool.
	Housing benefit continues to be paid when a convicted person is in prison for 13 weeks or less. Many prisoners spend relatively short periods in detention for comparatively minor offences and it would be inappropriate to remove housing benefit from these persons. However, if the offence also involved anti-social behaviour, a benefit sanction might also be appropriate.

Non-Residential Property

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 12 May (WA 22–24), why they were unable to provide figures for the total rateable value of non-residential property in the Shaftesbury ward of Belfast and the Diamond ward of Londonderry, and whether they will provide such figures.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The rateable values for the two requested wards in Northern Ireland, were not available from the database to which the Inland Revenue has access, which covers England and Wales.
	The residential populations and the rateable values of non-residential properties in the Shaftesbury ward of Belfast and the Diamond Ward of Londonderry have been obtained from the Department of Finance and Personnel for Northern Ireland and are now given below:
	
		
			  Residential Population Rateable value (£ millions) 
			 Ward 2001 1 April 2003 
			 Shaftesbury 5,745 112.5 
			 Diamond 2,554 15.8

Gaelic Language: Status in UK

Lord MacKenzie of Culkein: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have any plans to give the Gaelic language legal or official status within the United Kingdom.

Lord Evans of Temple Guiting: The United Kingdom Government ratified the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in March 2001. As a signatory to the Charter, the Government have signalled their clear commitment to maintain and promote the use of indigenous minority languages across the United Kingdom, including Gaelic. The Gaelic language has, therefore, official status within the United Kingdom, although the Scottish Executive has devolved responsibility for the development of the language within Scotland.

SSSIs on North-West Coast: Grant Awards

Lord Fearn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which sites of scientific interest have been given government or European grants on the north-west coast of England in the past five years.

Lord Whitty: In the past five years, the following sites of special scientific interest have received the government or European grants listed below.
	
		
			 SSSI Scheme 
			 Solway Firth European Marine Sites LIFE Project Estuary Partnership Funding Local Nature Reserve Grant 
			 Morecambe Bay (inc a number of SSSI) European Marine Sites LIFE Project Estuary Partnership Funding Wildlife Enhancement Scheme 
			 Duddon Estuary Estuary Partnership Funding Wildlife Enhancement Scheme Local Nature Reserve Grant 
			 Ribble Estuary Estuary Partnership Funding Wildlife Enhancement Scheme 
			 Mersey Estuary Estuary Partnership Funding Wildlife Enhancement Scheme 
			 Dee Estuary Estuary Partnership Funding 
			 Sefton Coast EU LIFE funding 
			 Solway Firth (Maryport Harbour) European Marine Sites LIFE Project 
			 Drigg Coast Publicity Grant Wildlife Enhancement Scheme 
			 Annaside Wildlife Enhancement Scheme 
			 Silloth Dunes & Mawbray Banks Wildlife Enhancement Scheme 
			 South Walney & Piel Channel Flats Wildlife Enhancement Scheme Reserves Enhancement Scheme 
			 Upper Solway Flats and Marshes Wildlife Enhancement Scheme 
			 Lune Estuary Wildlife Enhancement Scheme 
			 Dee Cliffs Wildlife Enhancement Scheme 
			 Hesketh Golf Links Wildlife Enhancement Scheme 
			 Eskmeals Dunes Reserves Enhancement Scheme 
			 Foulney Island Reserves Enhancement Scheme 
			 Rockcliffe Marsh Reserves Enhancement Scheme